ciento44 said:
My 1993 Celica GT is going to be undergoing a major transformation over the next two years.... Can you say 700+HP, AWD?
*cough* BULLSHIT *cough*
No, actually you cant say 1993 Celica GT and 700 BHP and AWD in teh same sentence.
1: I happen to be a hudge Celica enthousiast.
2: I happen to be a HUDGE World Rally fan, and can quote tech specs untill the cows come home.
3: I will now pwn you.
The Celica ST, base 1.6L engine, FWD, general comuter car.
The Celica GT, same chassis as the ST, with a bigger engine, the 5S-GE displacing 2.2L
The Celica GT-S, had the same 2.2L 5S-GTE with the wide body fender flairs of the GT4/All-Trac model. And had revised suspension, with bigger anti-role bars, and some other more upscale interior options.
The Celica All-Trac (ST-185), had the 2.0L Turbo charged 3S-GTE, and came with AWD, and a slew of upper scale interior options.
There was also an "R" version of the Celica that never made it into the US, dubbed the ST-182 chassis, that had a 3S-GE, and all wheel steering. And the came wide fender flairs as the GT-S and All-Trac.
There was also a model avliable in Euroe and Japan that was the GT4 Narrow, which was a GT4 chassis with the narrow fenders of the base GT/ST models.
Now, that we have discussed the basic versions of the 5th gen celica...let me tell you why what you propose is impossible.
Essentially what you claim to be attempting to do, is turn a base model GT into a GT4. This CAN NOT be done. Unless you happen to own the machinary at Toyotas factory, and can restamp the entire unibody.
You see the base GT/ST, is specificly designed to be a FWD car. And the chassis unibody bottom pan is designed for this purpose only.
I guess the best way to describe it is why you cant put GT4 running gear into a 5th gen celica.
The biggest issue is the AWD setup. For starters you need to have a full tunnel that runs to the back of the car, with mounting points for the rear diff housing, and the extra room for the rear drive shafts, and revised multilink rear suspension to mount up. The base model ST/GT chassis DO NOT have this floor pan. The GT4's trunk deck sits a whopping 8 inchies higher then the standared ST/GT trunk. Thats becuase the trailing arm rear McPherson strut doesnt require the same room as the multilink on the GT4, and there is no drive shafts or differential housings to deal with. So the floor is level with teh centerline of the rear wheel, rather then being well above it in the GT4.
Seconedly the AWD transmission requires more room behind the firewall for the center differential to fit. The ST/GT chassis does not have this relief in the firewall. Also to help support the weight of the transmission, and the added torque, there is a lateral support brace for the transmission, these mounting points do not exsist on the ST/GT chassis, and there is no flush mount point to drill into to make it work. And without it, the transmission will flop around and bang all over the chassis (i know this from having ridden in a 6th gen GT4 without this brace in, becuase we where doing some engine work).
So those are the two biggest things.
But, all hope is not list in your quest. There is still an option. Heres what you CAN do.
The first and seconed generation 3S-GTE engines are rather abundant here inthe US. Especially the 2nd gen, as it was in the ST-185 Celica All-Trac, and the SW20 MR2 Turbo. So parts are avliable, and can be had relatively cheap. The first gen (fromt eh ST-165 Celica All-Trac) has some intake issues with starving cylinders becuase of the manifold design, and the bottom end is not as robust as it could be. Plus it has the base single entry CT-27 turbo which is preaty inefficient.
THe engine you want, is a seconed gen...and you want it out of an MR2...with the transmission, ECU, and if you can, get a tranny with the stock Toyota LSD.
The reason why you need a tranny, is becuase the stock tranny on the 5S-GE is meant for the 5S-GE...if you put a 3S-GTE on that tranny, the increased torque would sheer gears. So you gotta replace it.
So now youve got your 2nd Gen 3S-GTE from an MR2 with a tranny that you know wil hold the power.
Basicly the MR2's drive layout is identicle to a FWD car, with the exception that its placed in the rear of the car, instead of in teh front. So the transmission is essentially a FWD transmission with the linkage kit facing forward, instead of backwards. And that can be EASILY fixed by swapping out the linkage with the 5S-GE tranny. Fits with little modification. And works perfectly.
Now its jsut a matter of putting it all into your GT.
So now youve got a FWD GT, with the 3S-GTE out of an MR2. And if you shopped wisely, you also got the tranny with an LSD, which will GREATLY improve handling.
The only downside...its not AWD, and the Toyota emblems on teh engine are facing the wrong way (remember it was int eh back of the car before).
Then you can have fun. Really, for the GT, the stock engine managment, and power from the 3S-GTE is perfect for it. Anything over 230 BHP in a front wheel drive car, and you are kidding yourself. It would be undrivable in anything but a straight line. Maybe thats what you like? But it wouldent be drivable on teh street.
So, to sumerise...
Unless you have a GT4 chassis to begin with, you CAN NOT make a GT into a GT4. You can however put in an MR2 Turbo engine and tranny with a little fanagling. And that will get you part way there.
And then if you really want to go all out, you can search around for some GT4 body bits. Like a GT4 RC hood, and front bumper. SO you can at least look like a GT4.
Hate to burst your bubble...but it simple cant be done without SERIOUSLY modifying the car. And by serious i mean completely stripping the car down to a bare skin and doing body over tube frame, and making a full blown race car. And 700 BHP?! The 3S-GTE is going to be preaty close to its limits at 500, and thats with some hefty mods. Anything more then that, and your talking SERIOUS modification again, which wouldent make it a 3S-GTE by the time you got done.
And really, becuase they ST-182 was shipped to the US...its best just to buy one of those if you really want that kind of performance. They can be picked up in good shape for well under $5000. And you would be alot less of a poser in a stock All-Trac, then you would in a GT with a 3S-GTE swap. Its kinda like putting a supercharger on a V6 Camaro to make it as fast as a Camaro SS.
So there you have it....PWN3D!